SOCIAL TRUST, INEQUALITY, AND STATE INSTITUTIONS IN BRAZIL ^*

CONFIANÇA SOCIAL, DESIGUALDADE E INSTITUIÇÕES ESTATAIS NO BRASIL

Abstract

How does interpersonal trust relate to trust in public institutions, people’s willingness to contribute to redistributive actions, and the strong bonds of social cohesion in society? This article presents how Brazilians’ trust in others and in various state institutions has varied since the 1990s and how the interaction between interpersonal and institutional trust affects social cohesion. Also, we examine how widespread social perceptions of institutional corruption and different levels of inequality affect the levels of interpersonal social. Using the analytical concept of social responsibility, we argue strategies centered on the design and performance of public institutions contribute to breaking the vicious circle of lack of trust and its social costs. We used descriptive statistics and regression analysis based on data extracted from the Latinobarómetro World Values Survey as well as interview data with different social classes in Brazil.

Keywords  Social trust; Institutional trust; Social inequalities; Corruption; State in Brazil